Velocipede



' UNITED STATES` PATRNPv OFFICE. g

RMMIT e. LATTA, or FRI'RNDsHIP,`fNRw YORK, AssIGNOR To THR POPE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF PORTLAND, MAINE.

VELOCIPEDE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 377,566, dated February 7, 1888.

Application iiled March 22, 1887. Serial No. 231.932. (No model.)

.To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I,`EMMIT G. LATTA, of Friendship, in thev county of Allegany and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvementsin Velocipedes, of which the following is a specification.

i This invention relates to a tandem tricycle having two front' driving and steering wheels and a rear trailing wheel.

The object of my invention is to produce a machine in which the steering is easy and reliable, in which the driving-gear is less expensive and more serviceable than heretofore, and which is especially adapted for use by two ladies.

My invention also relates to the construction of the front saddle and handle-bar,where by these parts may be adj usted vertically either together or independently, as desired.

The invention consists of the improvements which will be hereinafter yfully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, consisting of two sheets, Figure l is a longitudinal sectional elevation of my improved tricycle. Fig. 2 is a sectional fragmentary top plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section in line m x, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal section, on an enlarged scale, in line y y, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section in line z z, Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a horizontal section in line w w, Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is a perspectiveview of the head on` which the steering-post is supported.

Likeletters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

A A represent the front'driving and steering wheels; a e', the separate axles of these wheels arranged in line with each other and reaching with their inner ends nearly to the center of the machine.

. du? represent sprocket-wheels securedl toV the Inner ends of the axles a a, which latter' n A cured to the upper end of the front portion,

are preferably plugged up, as shown.

B represents the central longitudinal member of the main frame arranged below the axles a a', and having its rear portion, b, extending upwardly in rear of the axles and supporting the rear saddle, C, the post c of which is adjustably secured in the frame portion b by a clamp, c.

Drepresents a cross-brace secured at its' middle to the frame-bar B by a T-piece, d, and having its upwardly and outwardly extending arms provided at their outer ends with sleeves d d.

dl represents tubes which are secured in the sleeves d', and in which the axles a a turn.

If desired, suitable ball-bearings may be interposed between the tubes d2 and the' axles.

E represents the tube which supports the front saddle-post, f, and which is secured with its lower end to the T-piece d and extends upwardly in front of the axles a a.

F is the front saddle attached to the upper end'of the post f.

G represents the reach which connects the trailing wheel G with the main frame, and which is provided with an upwardly-extending front portion, g. The latter passes through a tube, y', which is secured to the main frame bya cross-fitting, g2. The front portion, g, of the reach mayturn directly in the tube g, as shown; but, if desired, suitable ball-bearings may be interposed between the reach and the tube g' to reducethe friction. The upperend of the tube g is secured to a head, H,which extends forwardly to Athe front saddle-tube, E, and is provided with dependent ears h, to which the inner ends of the tubes d2 are secured by brazing or otherwise. The head H is provided at its front end with a clamp, h', which holds the front saddle-post, f, in position. f.

. I represents the rear handle-bar, and t' the rod to the upper end of which it is secured.

z" represents the tubular'steering-post, in

which the rod i is adjustahly secured by a clamp, i2, so that the rod can be raised and lowered. The lower end of the post t" turns on a stud, 3, which is securedto the head H.

.I represents a gear-segment secured to the lower end of the steering-post z" and turning therewith. J is asimilar gear-segment se- IOO A turning movement of the handle-bar I is transmitted by the segment J to the segment J', which latter, being supported by the reach G and trailing wheel Gr', causes the drivingwheels A A and the main frame to turn with the handle-bar. The segment J is preferably made of smaller radius than the segment J', to give the rider the advantage of greater leverage and to overcome to a great extentthe tendency of either' of the driving-wheels to swerve on striking an obstruction. The tube g is preferably inclined backwardly to cause the trailing wheel to incline toward the center of the circle in turning, thereby lessening the tendency of the wheel to slip or buckle.

k represents the rear crankshaft journaled in a bearing, 7c', which is attached to the lower portion of the tube g.

k2 represents the cranks secured to the shaft k, and kl kl the pedals attached to said cranks.

k represents a sprocket-wheel secured to the shaft k, and la represents a drive-chain which connects the sprocket-wheel lc* with the sprocket-wheel a2 on the axle a. The reach G is carried under the shaft k low enough to clear the cranks when they stand backwardly and downwardly at an angle of about forty-ve degrees; but as the reach never swings laterally far enough to strike the cranks l when they are directly under the shaft it is not necessary to locate the reach lower than shown in the drawings.

L represents the'` front handle-banof crescent or arc shape, and secured at its center rigidly to a clamp, Z, which latter is in turn secured with its front end to the front saddlepost by a clamping-bolt, Z', while its rear end is provided with an opening in which the steering-post i turns freely. The front saddle-post and the steeringpost are arranged parallel with each other, so that the steering post can turn in the clamp Z in all positions of the latter. Upon loosening the clamp h at the front end of the head H the front saddle and the front handle-bar can be raised and lowered together. Upon loosening the clamp Z the front handle-bar can be raised and lowered without disturbing the front saddle. By thus connecting the front saddle-post with the steering-post each of these posts supports the other and both posts can be made lighter than if they were disconnected.

The head H is preferably constructed by forging, and is brazed to the upper end of the tube g. 'Ihe front portion of the head H is brazed t0 the upper end of the tube E and terminated with the clamp h', which embraces the front saddle-post, f.

m represents a brace connecting the rear portion of the longitudinal member B of the main frame with the lower end of the tube g. By arranging the frame and steering-gear as described a lady can conveniently occupy the rear seat.

n represents the front crankshaft journaled in a bearing, n', which is adjustably attached to the horizontal member B by a clamp, n2.

n3 represents the cranks attached to the shaft n, n* the pedals, a5 the sprocket-wheel, and l11,6 the drive-chain connecting thesprocketwheel a5 with the sprocket-wheel a on the aXle a.

' Each rider drives one ofthe wheels AA independent of the other rider, whereby the expense, weight, and friction of a balance or differential drivinggear are saved. After a little practice the riders will drive the machine as wellA as if it had a balance-gear, and in some respects better, as they will readily learn to apply extra power to either wheel when it strikes an obstruction, thereby reducing the strain on the frame and stecringgear, and will also learn to do a great part of the steering by varying the speed of the wheels, which is of great importance when the machine tilts forward so that the rear wheel does not touch the ground. If either rider does less than half the work it is easily detected by the steering. The shortness of the axles permits the same to be made comparatively light without danger of springing. p

O represents a small caster-wheel attached to the front end of the member B of the main frame for preventing the machine from tipping forward too far.

l claim as my invention-4 1. In a tricycle, the combination, with the main frame, driving-wheels attached to the main frame, and a saddlesupport attached to the main frame and arranged behind the centers of the driving-wheels, of a steering-post arranged above said frame and pivoted with its lower end thereto, a reach arranged below said frame and saddle-support, and pivoted with its upper end to the main frame, and connecting-gear, whereby the reach and the steering-post are connected,and whereby the reach can be turned on its pivot without moving the saddle, substantially as set forth.

2. In a tricycle, the combination, with the main frame and the driving-wheels attached thereto, of a saddle-post secured to the main frame, a trailing wheel, a depressed reach extending forwardly from the trailing wheel and pivoted to the main frame in front of said saddle-post, and a driving-gear attached to the main frame above the depressed reach, substantially as set forth.

3. In a tricycle, the combination, with the main frame and the driving-wheels attached thereto, of a trailing wheel, adepressed bent reach extending forwardly from the trailing wheel and provided with an upwardly-extending front portion, and a socket formed on the main frame for the reception of the front portion of the reach, substantially as set forth.

4. In a tricycle, the combination, with a main frame and driving-wheels having their IOO IZO

axles arranged above the main frame, of a trailing wheel, a reach connecting the trailing wheel with the main frame, and a saddlesupport secured to the main frame below the centers of the driving-wheels and above the reach, substantially as set forth.

5. In a tricycle, the combination, with the main frame and two driving-wheels attached thereto, of a trailing wheel and a reach connecting the trailing wheel with the mainframe by an inclined pivot at its front end,whereby the trailing wheel is caused to incline toward the center of the circle in turning, substantially as set forth.

'6. In a tricycle, the combination, with the main frame provided with a tube, g', and a seat-support, b, secured thereto, of a trailing Wheel, and a reach, G, provided with an upwardly-extending front portion, g, seated in the tube g, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination, in a velocipede, of the longitudinal member B of the main frame, a

cross-brace, D, secured thereto below the censecured to the head H and the cross-brace D,

substantially as set forth.

10. The combination, with the saddle-post f and the steering-post i', of the clamp Z, adjustably secured to lthe saddle-post and pro'- Vided with an opening in which the steeringpost turns, substantially as set forth.

11. The combination, in a tandem tricycle, of a front saddle-post and a front handle-bar adjustably secured to the saddle-post, whereby the front'handle-bar can be raised and lowered with the lsaddle-post or independently thereof, substantially as set forth.

12. vIn a tandem tricycle, the combination, with the frontv saddle-post and the steeringpost, of an adjustable clamp connecting the saddle-post with the steering-post, and a front handle bar secured to said clamp, substantially as set forth.

Witness my hand this 9th day of March, 1887. f i

vEMMrr e. LATTA.

Witnesses:

HERMAN RICE, W. WARD RICE. 

